HEC: Montpellier vs Toulon, Sat 18 Jan 3:40pm (Irish time)

thomond2006

Very important game for Munster and Leinster, a win for RCT could mean both Munster and Leinster could qualify if they get the right results themselves.

As it stands:
Toulon 23 (23 tries scored)
Montpellier 18 (15 tries scored)

With Montpellier so far ahead of Munster and Leinster in terms of tries scored, the provinces would need to finish above Montpellier in points in order to finish ahead of them in the rankings. Should Montpellier get a point, Leinster would have to get a bonus point win at Exeter, since finishing level would mean Montpellier go through on tries scored.

Montpellier would need a massive win in order to displace Toulon. The likelihood is Toulon will only need a point from this game in order to secure a home quarter final, with Stade Mayol being a tough place to travel.

The good news for Munster and Leinster fans is the 24 man squad that Toulon published today is quite strong, so it looks like Toulon aren't taking any chances by resting a raft of players. Here's the Toulon squad, the finalised lineup should be confirmed tomorrow:

Les avants (14) : Steffon ARMITAGE - Juan-Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE – Pierrick GUNTHER – Carl HAYMAN – Mickaël IVALDI - Gethin JENKINS - Nick KENNEDY – Davit KUBRIASHVILI – Chris MASOE – Jean-Charles ORIOLI – Simon SHAW – Andrew SHERIDAN – Jocelino SUTA - Joe VAN NIEKERK.

Les 3/4 (10) : Delon ARMITAGE – Mathieu BASTAREAUD – Nicolas DURAND - Matt GITEAU – Vincent MARTIN - Maxime MERMOZ – Frédéric MICHALAK – Alexis PALISSON - Jonny WILKINSON – Rudi WULF.

http://www.rctoulon.com/fr/news/article/le-groupe-pour-montpelliertoulon/

I reckon there will be some changes to the lineup and there's a few players coming back from injury who will need gametime, you could see something like:

Jenkins, Ivaldi, Hayman, Suta, Shaw, Gunther, Lobbe, Van Niekerk;
Durand, Michalak, Palisson, Giteau, Mermoz, Martin, D Armitage

News in Montpellier this week has been dominated by the sad passing of forward's coach Eric Bechu, with the club asking fans to wear white as a tribute.

molloyjh

Looking at likely results from other pools I reckon that anything less than a win (possibly even a TBP win) will see them face Leicester/Toulouse/Sarries at home. If they get the win they will probably face Munster at home. Not being smart, but if I were to be in a decision making position there I'd want to try and ensure the latter. I reckon they will be looking for the win. Hope they can get it and both Leinster and Munster to through....

.ak

Thomond, you've just been dieing to have an excuse to make a Toulon matchday thread....

jamiedav2011

Toulon team out, thankfully looks strong:

15.Delon ARMITAGE ; 14.Rudi WULF, 13.Maxime MERMOZ, 12.Matt GITEAU, 11.Alexis PALISSON ; 10.Jonny WILKINSON (cap), 9.Frédéric MICHALAK ; 8.Chris MASOE, 7.Steffon ARMITAGE, 6.Pierrick GUNTHER ; 5.Jocelino SUTA, 4.Simon SHAW ; 3.Davit KUBRIASHVILI, 2.Mickaël IVALDI, 1.Andrew SHERIDAN.
Les remplaçants :
16.Jean-Charles ORIOLI, 17.Gethin JENKINS, 18.Carl HAYMAN, 19.Nick KENNEDY, 20.Mathieu BASTAREAUD, 21.Juan-Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE, 22.Vincent MARTIN, 23.Joe VAN NIEKERK.

Podge_irl

Teach us some Toulon chants there Thomond. I need something to scream at the tv other than "Come on you stupid bastards".

irishbucsfan

I reckon "Toulon, Toulon, Toulon, Toulon" would be acceptable.

Of course I mean that to the tune of "Leinster, Leinster, Leinster, Leinster." Very similar to "Lions, Lions, Lions, Lions." Some elements of "Tigers, Tigers, Tigers, Tigers" borrowed. If you can manage it you could also evoke the feelings of "Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland"

totallegend

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Toulon team out, thankfully looks strong:

15.Delon ARMITAGE ; 14.Rudi WULF, 13.Maxime MERMOZ, 12.Matt GITEAU, 11.Alexis PALISSON ; 10.Jonny WILKINSON (cap), 9.Frédéric MICHALAK ; 8.Chris MASOE, 7.Steffon ARMITAGE, 6.Pierrick GUNTHER ; 5.Jocelino SUTA, 4.Simon SHAW ; 3.Davit KUBRIASHVILI, 2.Mickaël IVALDI, 1.Andrew SHERIDAN.
Les remplaçants :
16.Jean-Charles ORIOLI, 17.Gethin JENKINS, 18.Carl HAYMAN, 19.Nick KENNEDY, 20.Mathieu BASTAREAUD, 21.Juan-Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE, 22.Vincent MARTIN, 23.Joe VAN NIEKERK.

6-2 split on the bench, they're expecting an arm-wrestle.

Is it not ridiculous that a team can leave Lobbe and Van Niekerk on the bench and still have a back-row as strong as that?

thomond2006

Have fun supporting Delon Armitage everyone! :pac:

Zzippy

*nerd alert*

Is it normal in France to name a replacement back row as no. 23? Would have expected van Niekirk to be no. 20...

/nerd alert

thomond2006

Zzippy wrote: »

*nerd alert*

Is it normal in France to name a replacement back row as no. 23? Would have expected van Niekirk to be no. 20...

/nerd alert

Their benches are always a bit mixed up, I don't know why.

jamiedav2011

Mont team:

15. Pierre Bérard, 14. Timoci Nagusa, 13. Thomas Combezou, 12. Santiago Fernandez, 11. Yoan Audrin, 10. Francois Trinh-Duc, 9. Benoit Paillaugue, 1. Mikheil Nariashvili, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Maximiliano Bustos, 4. Mickael Demarco, 5. Mamuka Gorgodze, 6. Alexandre Bias, 7. Johnnie Beattie, 8. Alex Tulou,
16. Rassie van Vuuren, 17. Yvan Watremez, 18. Barry Fa'amausili, 19. Aliki Fakate, 20. Thibaut Privat, 21. Kelian Galletier, 22. Eric Escande, 23. Lucas Amorosino,

thomond2006

Gorgodze at lock, shame Bakkies is injured, that would have been some matchup!

I thought Trinh-Duc was injured but he's in, Ouedraogo is out though.

corny

10/11 the pair with PP. Can't split them.

thomond2006

corny wrote: »

10/11 the pair with PP. Can't split them.

I agree with them, the fact that Toulon might play for the losing bonus means it would be a risky bet.

Fishooks13

thomond2006 wrote: »

I agree with them, the fact that Toulon might play for the losing bonus means it would be a risky bet.

I don't see them doing that. If they want the extra point they'll try and win the game rather than lose it by less than 7! And if they try and win the game, on paper at least, Toulon look a better side.

thomond2006

Fishooks13 wrote: »

I don't see them doing that. If they want the extra point they'll try and win the game rather than lose it by less than 7! And if they try and win the game, on paper at least, Toulon look a better side.

I get your point, the situation I'm imagining is if Toulon are four points down and have possession on the last play they'll likely kick it out and settle for the LBP.

I imagine the death of Eric Bechu will really fire up the Monty players and the home crowd.

4PP

Podge_irl wrote: »

Teach us some Toulon chants there Thomond. I need something to scream at the tv other than "Come on you stupid bastards".

Accurate, if nothing else & streets ahead of Toulons "Pilou, Pilou"

4PP

Monty-Toulon

Logic would suggest that RCT will win. They have everything to play for & even allowing for a possible "agreement" which would see Monty glean a point or two there is no logical reason Toulon should not win this game.

However the French are not like "us".

I remember when Toulouse went to the Sports-ground & beat a valiant Connacht...................How people were outraged by Guy Noves giving Eric Elwood what they viewed as an insultingly condescending pat on the head!.

Thing is though, the man did no such thing.

He displayed his affection & respect via a gesture which conveys far more than words in his (GN) part of France to a man whose team made them (ST) work really hard for their crust despite being less well armed.

My point? You cannot apply what seems logical to those of us in Ireland or the UK to France.

Monty may play out of their skins or maybe the emotion will be too much for them. Even Toulon, despite needing 15 translators at interview time will be affected.

The emotion will be intense tomorrow. If you want to have a bet by all means do but keep it small.

There are some things that can't just be quantified.

thomond2006

The rugby transferts website has linked Bismarck du Plessis with a move to Toulon. Imagine a Sheridan - du Plessis - Hayman front row. :eek:

desertcircus

Followed on sixty minutes by a Jenkins-Bruno-Kubriashvili front row, which is just taking the mick.

thomond2006

ALLEZ TOULON!!!

.ak

C'mon Toulon!!! Freddie to have a stormer, please!

.ak

Rolland to ref? Could be a good thing for the Irish?

thomond2006

Nice tribute

jamiedav2011

Very luck penalty there, Mont scrum looks on top.

Fishooks13

Blow it up!

thomond2006

0-3 Toulon

DDC1990

Allez Johnny!

Feel dirty cheering for "Wilko" :P

Some fearsome scrummaging early on. Both sides look up for it. Should be a cracker.

corny

Forward

jk86

FEEEEEEECCCK

jamiedav2011

Oh ****.

Fishooks13

Try Mont! awful defense from Giteau

irishbucsfan

Bizarre try...

clsmooth

Crap

Quint2010

Clucking bell.

This is not good. Even a Toulon win is not good enough-four tries against and within seven and we're gone

thomond2006

jesus that was abysmal defence

DDC1990

Fúck

Max Power

Hucking Fell

clsmooth

Michalak the moody ****er

cameramonkey

looks like a 4 try experience for each team with bonus points all round.

thomond2006

On another day Delon would have clattered him and got binned. Thankfully not today.

irishbucsfan

In the back of my mind is something telling me how convenient it'd be for Toulon to lose with a LBP in a game with loads of tries...

Blair

Very Close

thomond2006

whew

Quint2010

irishbucsfan wrote: »

In the back of my mind is something telling me how convenient it'd be for Toulon to lose with a LBP in a game with loads of tries...

or the other way around

ktulu123

Toulon are going to make a balls of this for us

Fishooks13

Toulon look in trouble here

DDC1990

Toulon look disinterested.

Is Toulon getting hammered any good for Ulster with regard to a home draw?

totallegend

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Is Toulon getting hammered any good for Ulster with regard to a home draw?

No.